Senior Technologist, Technical Operations

Position: Senior Technologist, Technical Operations  - 36-Month Fixed-Term Contract  (40 hours/week)
Overview
Senior Technologist, Technical Operations - 36-Month Fixed-Term Contract (40 hours/week)

Spurkterweg 16

Venray
5804 AP

Netherlands

About the role:

As a Senior Technologist, Technical Operations, you will play a critical role in supporting the delivery of technical and R&D-driven projects within WWRDSA. Acting as a key interface between R&D and contract manufacturers, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Sourcing, Quality, Planning, and Product Operations, to ensure the successful transition of formulations from pilot stage to full-scale commercial production.

In this position, you will leverage your expertise in ingredients, products, and packaging to design and oversee manufacturing trials, ensuring effective execution and implementation of recommendations. You will also contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying cost-saving opportunities and supporting dual sourcing strategies to enhance supply chain resilience and efficiency.

What is special about the Team:

You’ll be joining a dynamic international environment where your ideas are valued, and your expertise makes a real difference. We foster a culture of open communication, cross-functional teamwork, and shared success. Whether you're working with your direct colleagues across EMEA or partnering with global stakeholders, you'll be supported by experienced leaders who encourage ownership, initiative and professional growth.

In this role, you will:

Lead concept scale-up activities and feasibility trials, ensuring smooth transition from R&D lab concepts to manufacturing.

Collaborate closely with EMEA R&D teams and formulators to adapt and optimize formulas for production and packaging processes.

Plan, execute, and document feasibility trials, ensuring clear conclusions and actionable recommendations.

Facilitate knowledge sharing by organizing training sessions for R&D teams based on trial learnings and best practices.

Support the development and qualification of existing products and vendors by working closely with formulators, laboratories, and external partners.

Prepare and oversee GMP production activities, ensuring proper documentation and timely QA release.

Manage and coordinate technical transfer trials between manufacturing sites and vendors, ensuring full validation and compliance.

Identify and drive cost-saving initiatives by analyzing product cost drivers in collaboration with Sourcing and external partners.

Assess and select appropriate packaging solutions together with vendors, ensuring product compatibility, shelf life, and cost efficiency.

Support packaging modernization projects, including material selection and line trials, in cooperation with Sourcing and suppliers.

Contribute to product superiority by supporting Marketing and R&D teams in enhancing technical aspects such as manufacturing, packaging, and functional ingredients.

Support dual sourcing strategies for raw materials by collaborating with Global and EMEA Sourcing teams.

Evaluate and qualify alternative suppliers from both technical and compliance perspectives.

Coordinate with manufacturers to ensure material compatibility with production processes.

Organize pilot batches and stability testing when required to ensure product consistency and specification compliance.

Document all pilot and testing activities in line with company standards.

Troubleshoot technical issues and support resolution of test failures.

Provide technical expertise to Quality teams as needed.

Maintain clear and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams on-site and across locations.

Undertake regular business travel (both local and international), approximately twice per month as part of the role.

Our requirements:

Minimum 5 years of experience in the food or supplement industry in a technical or quality-related role.

Strong knowledge of factory production processes, ideally gained in a technologist, process, or packaging technologist role.

Hands-on experience with packaging and packaging substrates, with understanding of their role in product development.

Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline.

Strong knowledge of New Product Development (NPD) processes and ability to contribute to a wide range of technical projects.

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and organize workloads.

Practical approach to identifying, predicting, and solving problems in a timely and collaborative manner.

Fluent English (min. C1 level).

Dutch, German or Italian would be considered a plus.

Strong organizational and project management skills.

Results-driven with strong customer focus.

Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-changing environment with evolving priorities.

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively at all levels and across diverse teams.

Willingness and ability to travel regularly.

We offer:

Hybrid working model (up to 3 days in the office).

8% holiday…